Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 05-07-28

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Cypriot President: Satisfied over visit to Britain

[02] Cypriot President sends letter to Azeri counterpart for illegal flights

[03] Cypriot President: Turkey's obligation to sign protocol ''given and definite''

[04] EPP - ED Group: Turkey - EU accession talks require recognition of Cyprus

[01] Cypriot President: Satisfied over visit to Britain

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Cypriot President: Satisfied over visit to Britain

Larnaca, Jul 28 (CNA) -- Cyprus and Britain have decided to promote cooperation within the framework of the European Union and make renewed efforts to improve the climate in their bilateral relations, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has said.

Speaking at Larnaca airport upon his return from Britain where he held discussions with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Papadopoulos expressed satisfaction with the results of his talks, adding that he explained Cyprus positions as regards the Cyprus problem.

[02] Cypriot President sends letter to Azeri counterpart for illegal flights

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Cypriot President sends letter to Azeri counterpart for illegal flights

Larnaca, Jul 28 (CNA) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said he has sent a letter to his Azerbaijani counterpart regarding direct chartered flights from Azerbaijan to Cyprus Turkish occupied areas.

He added that the Cyprus Government has decided on a series of measures and took steps at several international fora and organizations dealing with civil aviation, expressing hope that �we will have positive results''.

A 90-member delegation comprising Azerbaijani businessmen, technocrats, journalists and artists arrived Wednesday night at the illegal airport of occupied Tymbou, on an aircraft of ''Imair'' private airlines of Azerbaijan.

[03] Cypriot President: Turkey's obligation to sign protocol ''given and definite''

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Cypriot President: Turkey's obligation to sign protocol ''given and definite''

Larnaca, Jul 28 (CNA) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said that Turkey's obligation to sign the Protocol extending its Customs Union with the ten new EU members ''is given and definite'', adding that Ankara must not set rules or conditions.

Speaking upon his return from London, he said that the ''existence of the Cyprus Republic does not depend on Turkey'', noting that for 31 years ''we live and operate as an independent state without recognition from Turkey''.

He further noted that many EU member - states have stated that ''either Turkey signs the Protocol or it cannot start accession negotiations''.

[04] EPP - ED Group: Turkey - EU accession talks require recognition of Cyprus

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EPP - ED Group: Turkey - EU accession talks require recognition of Cyprus

Nicosia, Jul 28 (CNA) -- Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering has stated that accession negotiations with Turkey require the recognition of Cyprus.

Accession negotiations with Turkey are impossible as long as the question of the recognition of Cyprus by Turkey is not settled, he said.

According to an EPP ED Group press release, Poettering was reacting to reports that both the Turkish side as well as the current British EU Council Presidency consider the signing of the so-called Ankara Protocol, about the extension of the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU to the new member states, does not mean the recognition of Cyprus by Turkey.

According to Poettering the position of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is a contradiction in itself, signing on the one hand the protocol to the Ankara Agreement that implies the legal and political recognition of Cyprus while on the other hand denying the recognition of Cyprus in a planned declaration. Poettering said it is disconcerting that Council President Blair accepts this interpretation.

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